Electro-mechanical locking mechanism

• US 5,216,909 A
• Filed: 04/01/1992
• Issued: 06/08/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Valle Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Valle Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Armoogam, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gall, Lloyd A.
• Application Number:
  US07/861,577
• Time in Patent Office: 433 Days
• Field of Search: 70/283, 70/277, 70/278, 70/279, 292/144, 292/150, 292/341.16
• US Class Current: 70/278.7
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0008 having different functions
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0002 with electromagnets
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0004 said core being linearly movable
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0603 the detent moving rectilinearly
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/0069 actuated in a predetermined sequence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1021 Motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1028 Sliding catch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7102 And details of blocking system [e.g., linkage, latch, pawl, spring]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/713 Dogging manual operator

Abstract

An electro-mechanical lock includes a selectively operated bolt or latch which, when the bolt or latch is unblocked, may be selectively moved between a lock and an unlock position. A bolt blocking pin, which is float-mounted on a bias spring, is driven, by a first solenoid to a bolt blocking position, when the bolt is in a lock position. A spring biased solenoid pin of a second solenoid, is normally held against the blocking pin by the bias-spring and is driven by the bias-spring, to secure the bolt blocking pin in a bolt or latch locking position when the blocking pin is driven to the latch blocking position by the first solenoid. The spring biased pin is withdrawn from securing the blocking pin in bolt blocking position by energization of the second solenoid. Actuation of the solenoids to drive the bolt blocking pin into the bolt blocking position and to release the bolt blocking pin from a bolt securing position is accomplished by command or code operated switching.

Claims

1. In an electro-mechanical lock being adjustable from an unlock condition to a lock condition and held in said lock condition by a mechanical means with additional mechanical means for retaining said electro-mechanical lock in said lock condition and against unauthorized adjustment of said electro-mechanical lock to said unlock condition, said electro-mechanical lock comprising:

a) a bolt, selectively adjustable to a lock position from an unlock position when desired and selectively adjustable to said unlock position from said lock position when released;

b) a floating blocking pin having a first position for holding and retaining said bolt in said lock position and having a second position for releasing said bolt for selective adjustment of said bolt between said lock position and said unlock position;

c) a first solenoid having a first pin for making contact with said floating blocking pin when said first solenoid is energized for driving said floating blocking pin to said first position for holding said bolt in said lock position when said bolt is adjusted to said lock position; and

d) a second solenoid having a second pin for making contact with said floating blocking pin, said second pin including a first bias means for driving said second pin over said floating blocking pin for retaining said floating blocking pin in said first position when said bolt is in said lock position and said floating blocking pin is in said first position, said second solenoid for removing said second pin from over said floating blocking pin, when energized, for permitting said floating blocking pin to return to said second position.

2. In an electro-mechanical lock as in claim 1 and said electro-mechanical lock further includes a power supply means for providing power for energizing said first solenoid and a switch means, positioned between said power supply and said first solenoid, said switch means for actuating said first solenoid in response to a command.

3. In an electro-mechanical lock as in claim 2 and in which said switch means includes a code means and said command includes a first code entered into said code means.

4. In an electro-mechanical lock as in claim 1 and in which said floating blocking pin further includes a second biasing means for returning said floating blocking pin to said second position for releasing said bolt when said second pin is removed from over said floating blocking pin.

5. In an electro-mechanical lock as in claim 1 and including a power supply means for energizing said first solenoid and in which said floating blocking pin is driven to said first position by said first pin when said first solenoid is energized by said power supply means.

6. In an electro-mechanical lock as in claim 5 and in which said first solenoid further includes a third biasing means for returning and holding said first pin to a neutral position, out of contact with said floating blocking pin, when said first solenoid is deenergized.

7. In an electro-mechanical lock as in claim 2 and in which said switch means includes a code means and said switch means is operated in response to a predetermined code entered into said code means.

8. In an electro-mechanical lock being selectively adjustable from an unlock condition to a lock condition and held in said lock condition by a mechanical means and against unauthorized adjustment of said electro-mechanical lock from said lock condition to said unlock condition, said electro-mechanical lock comprising:

a) a bolt means being freely adjustable from an unlock position to a lock position and adjustable from said lock position to said unlock position in response to a first predetermined command;

b) a bolt blocking pin float-mounted in a chamber on a first biasing means, said bolt blocking pin being movable in said chamber from a bolt release position to a bolt block position against said first biasing means for blocking said bolt means from adjustment of said bolt means from said lock position to said unlock position;

c) a first solenoid including a first pin, said first pin for driving said bolt blocking pin against said first biasing means, from said bolt release position to said bolt block position in response to a second predetermined command; and

d) a second solenoid including a second pin, said second pin having a first position when said bolt blocking pin is in said bolt release position and having a second position when said bolt blocking pin is in said bolt block position, said second position for securing said bolt blocking pin in said bolt block position, said second solenoid for driving said second pin to a third position when said second solenoid is energized, said third position for releasing said bolt blocking pin for permitting said first biasing means to move said bolt blocking pin in said chamber from said bolt block position to said bolt release position.

9. An electro-mechanical lock as in claim 8 and in which said second solenoid further includes a second biasing means for driving said second pin from said first position to said second position for securing said bolt blocking pin in said bolt block position.

10. An electro-mechanical lock as in claim 8 and further including a power supply means for energizing said first solenoid and said second solenoid and a switch means between said power supply means and said first solenoid for energizing said first solenoid in response to said second predetermined command.

11. In an electro-mechanical lock as in claim 10 and in which said switch means is between said power supply means and said second solenoid for energizing said second solenoid in response to said first predetermined command.

12. An electro-mechanical lock as in claim 10 and in which said switch means includes a code means and said first predetermined command includes a first code entered into said code means and said second predetermined command includes a second code entered into said code means.